South Korean Labour Union Official Arrested at Japanese Airport

July 4, 2008

Text of report in English by Japan’s largest news agency Kyodo

Sapporo, 4 July – Police arrested a South Korean man Friday on suspicion of obstructing an immigration officer at an airport – an incident that sources familiar with the matter said involves a labour union official trying to enter Japan to attend a rally related to next week’s Group of Eight summit in Hokkaido, northern Japan.

Lee Geun Sun, 48, is suspected of pushing the back of the officer’s head against a wall after the officer prevented the suspect from taking a photo at New Chitose Airport in Hokkaido at around 1:20 p.m., according to the police.

Lee arrived at the airport at around 12:45 p.m. on a flight from Incheon, South Korea, with four companions, who have been delayed at the airport.

Lee, vice leader of a medical arm of a South Korean labour union federation, was to attend a rally in Japan to discuss free trade agreements, the sources said.

Lee is refusing to talk other than to a lawyer, the police said.

The G-8 summit, to be held July 7-9 in Hokkaido’s Lake Toya hot spring resort area, will bring together the leaders of Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States.

Originally published by Kyodo News Service, Tokyo, in English 1151 4 Jul 08.